Martha Gilliland

Living and Leading for Possibilities

Martha Gilliland brings 40 years of experience and success as an executive, pioneer, and risk-taker to her dynamic speeches and workshops. She is a master at leading and living for possibilities in her life. Her workshops engage others in rejecting either-or solutions, rejecting mediocrity, and rejecting the status quo in order to move from "what is" to "what is possible". She has been a woman pioneer throughout her life, obtaining a Master's degree in geophysics at age 23 and a Ph.D. in systems ecology and environmental engineering at 28, while raising two children. By 32 she had won a major research award. At 40, she was named a Fellow of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and awarded a three year fellowship for leadership development and world travel. By 55, she was Chancellor of a large public research university overseeing a budget of $300 million. In 2008, at age 63, she successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. She regularly takes her grandchildren on river rafting adventures, dinosaur expeditions, and assorted learning trips.

"Martha reminded us that while fears, doubts, and insecurities can derail our dreams, they can also serve as wonderful lessons in life’s journey when we have the courage and overcome them. I am grateful for her insights and excited to once again believe in the power of my own dreams."